Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Coombabah
12 km²
A far older population than most similar areas defines Coombabah, where the typical resident is 51. This Gold Coast community is marked by a high proportion of seniors, with 33.3% aged 65 and over. It is a diverse place with a strong overseas-born population, though many residents face financial challenges. These lower incomes and the older age profile are reflected in the community's health, with many more people needing help with daily activities than in the rest of the state.
Modest local incomes, but the area's schools serve a more advantaged intake.
Explore Coombabah by topic
The area is far older than the national figure, with a typical age of 51 and a very high proportion of seniors. In contrast, children under 15 make up only 13.9%, which is well below the Queensland average.
People born overseas make up 32.3% of the population, a figure well above both the state and national averages. The most common ancestries are English, Australian, and Irish.
While 11.0% of residents use a language other than English at home, this is far below the national figure of 22.3%. English remains the primary language for 83.0% of the community.
Religious affiliation is split, with 48.9% of people identifying as Christian and 39.6% reporting no religion, which is about the same as the national figure.
Education levels are well below the state average, with only 13.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher and 47.1% having completed Year 12.
Incomes are much lower than most areas, with the typical household earning $1,092 a week, well below the Queensland figure of $1,675. Only 8.5% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly.
Health challenges are common here, as 37.8% of people have a long-term health condition and 9.1% need help with daily activities, both of which are well above the state average.
Participation in unpaid work is low, with volunteering at 9.2% being well below the national figure. However, 3.7% of residents have served in the Defence Force, which is higher than most similar areas.
There are 209 First Nations people in the area, whose typical age of 29 is noticeably older than the national figure of 24. The unemployment rate for this group is 15.7%, which is well above the national average.
Living arrangements are distinctive, with a high 34.5% of people living alone and 18.6% of families being one-parent homes, both of which are well above state levels.
Detached houses are far less common than in the rest of the state, with only 49.3% of homes being separate houses. Rent is a little above the national figure at $415 a week, though 41.5% of homes are owned outright.
Public transport use is quite high for the area, with 32 stops and 5 routes. However, 67.2% of people still rely on a car to get to work, and 5.8% of homes have no motor vehicle.
The community is quite mobile, with 44.3% of people moving in the last five years. This is well above the national average, although recent arrivals from overseas are well below the state figure.
Fewer people are working or looking for work here compared to most areas, at 49.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.9%, which is slightly higher than the state average.
Most homes are within a 15-minute walk of a park or public transport, but very few (2.2%) are near groceries. This makes the area somewhat walkable, though it has far fewer walkable amenities than the state average.